Sydney Open Day 2019: 1 Shelley Street

This striking commercial building in the King Street Wharf district is the purpose-designed home of the building’s sole tenant, Macquarie Group. Completed in February 2009, Macquarie’s brief to the architects Fitzpatrick + Partners was to develop an innovative and iconic landmark that would distinguish itself from surrounding buildings and establish benchmarks in sustainable design, while maintaining an efficient and functional working environment.

The architects worked with Arup engineers to develop the external steel grid system that eliminates perimeter columns and maximises the flexibility of floor space. The interior is focused around a ten-storey central atrium, with meeting-room pods dramatically projected into the void. The atrium is linked at several levels by bridges, stairs and open-floor levels, and an internal ‘street’ that travels along the length of the building. Out on the northern forecourt is a sculpture series by landscape architect and artist Anton James.

While the structural steel grid is expressed as its ‘wrapping’, the building’s sustainable design is integrated and seamless, incorporating chilled beam technology and harbour heat rejection, and a high-performance double-glazed glass facade that maximises natural light with minimal heat gain.

1 Shelley Street brings an energetic, innovative presence to the western edge of the CBD. The Green Building Council of Australia has awarded the building a 6 Star Green Star ‘World Leader’ rating.